Een jaar in Hotel Gondola

by Nicky Pellegrino

Kat is nooit een huismus geweest. Ze reist als schrijver de wereld rond, op zoek naar nieuwe plekken, nieuwe avonturen en nieuwe recepten. Maar nu begint ze aan een heel ander een relatie, en daarvoor een jaar op één plek blijven.


Voor Massimo wil ze het proberen. Ze zal een jaar in zijn Venetië wonen, hem helpen bij het runnen van zijn hotel, en ondertussen een nieuw boek schrijven over het eten dat ze eet, de recepten die ze verzamelt, en de mensen die ze ontmoet. Maar zoals Kat inmiddels zou moeten het punt van avonturen is dat ze nooit lopen als verwacht…

Genres: Italy, Romance, Travel, Contemporary, Fiction, Relationships

344 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

I was born and grew up near Liverpool, England. For a while I worked as a magazine journalist in London but then 21 years ago I came on holiday to New Zealand and met my future husband Carne Bidwill at a wedding. Now we live together near a beach in Auckland with our dogs Charlie the standard poodle and Lucy the pointer. I spend my time writing novels, working as a freelance journalist, riding my two horses, growing veges in my garden, cooking, trying to get other people to cook for me, eating and reading. There isn't much time for anything else except a little light housework.
My all-time favourite book is To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and my book of 2013 was LIfe After LIfe by Kate Atkinson.
I have a website www.nickypellegrino.com

Reviews

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.
Kat has opted to spend a year in Venice, to see what it is like to live in one place for a while instead of flitting around the world. Kat has a contract to write a book about her experience. Those chapters are included in the story. They are clearly labelled and in a different typeface so there is no confusion. Kat has just turned fifty at the start of the story. Fifty, when she falls in love with Massimo. But can they really have a future together? Or is it a pipe dream that will end when the year is up, or even before? And what about Massimo’s ex wife, what game is she playing?
The main character in this story is Venice, so effectively evoked. Add to that likeable characters with Kat and Massimo and I did enjoy the inclusion of Coco and her interesting way of conducting her vintage clothing business. The book has a big emphasis on food. As well as the unfolding story of that year there are also some recipes included for those so inclined. An enjoyable read and a pleasant way to spend some time.

[Lady_bercilak · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it difficult to finish this book. I couldn't engage with Kat, the protagonist. She was so self-absorbed and yet unaware of herself. I got to the point where I was reluctant to pick the book up and read another chapter. I think part of the problem was that the story was told partly in Kat's own words and partly by the narrator, but still looking at the story from a tight perspective on Kat, who was a rather unappealing and unsympathetic heroine. Still, the last few chapters brought the story to a more satisfying point than the rest of the book.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have ever wanted to feel as though you have been to Venice and stayed there for a considerable amount of time, then this is easily the book for you.

For Kat has decided to spend a year at The Hotel Gondola in the aim of seeing what it is like to put down roots in once place after travelling the world for most of her life. She has also fallen in love with Massimo and is curious to see what a longer term relationship is really like.

Kat though is a food writer and has agreed to write a book documenting her year in Venice, and this is in part where my niggles with the book are.

For what I was reading was really two books in one - every other chapter was a chapter from Kat's book written in the first person, and typically in a font a few points smaller than the rest of the book. Then the other chapters are in the third person, and dealt with what was happening in real time, whereas the book was the edited highlights as such.

I was reading on a kindle and found either I was upping and reducing the font ever other chapter as I like my fonts at a certain size, sand too much larger or smaller is frustrating. In the end I was putting up with the smaller font on the chapters - but found all of it each time, just took me out of the swing of things as my eyes re-adjusted.

That aside I did really enjoy the book(s). Kat is 50 years old, and given her way of life she has an interesting perspective on everything. I loved every last description in this book - and really got a feel for how you could wander around Venice, get completely lost, end up in a small osteria or baccari offering assorted Cicchetti, or discovering the festivals, the hidden shops.

The book also touches on the real issue facing Venetians which is to do with the level of tourists in summer with calls to ban cruise ships. This I know is based on real life, and was interesting to see in a book, and the younger Venetians take on the situation.

I am a huge fan of Nicky Pellegrino and normally would be raving about her books, I feel she has lost her way slightly with this one, I found it to be very good but just missing that certain something that would normally have me whizzing through the pages.

Regardless though this is an enjoyable story, and really does transport you to the heart of Venice, to the extent that I feel as though I would explore the city more next time I'm there on a cruise (or not depending on how that situation unravels).

Thank you to Orion and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Knygų Romantikė · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐

Skaitant knygą tikrai nesunkiai buvo mintimis nukeliauti į Veneciją ir joje praleisti visus metus, pajusti tikrąjį maisto skonį, o kam įsivaizduoti sunku, yra pateikti ir receptai. Įdomios asmenybės, lengvi istorijos vingiai. Norėjosi dar aštresnių veiksmų, dramos, intrigos, bet turbūt atsižvelgiant į amžių veikėjų, autorė norėjo parodyti, koks gyvenimas gali būti spalvotas ir kaip turime patys norėti pasikeisti.

[Mandy Radley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't think this was one of her best, however quick easy read, enjoyed the Venice theme and especially the food, it made me want to go and try out some of the recipes.

[Cora Tea Party Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 Words: Venice, regrets, love, friendship, food.

Review first posted to Tea Party Princess with an additional cocktail recipe.

This book is written in a rather different way - not only is it told from Kat's perspective, but also a narrator in third person. This did take a little while for me to get used to, but by about half way through it didn't disturb my reading or the flow of the story.

I was completely transported to Venice as I read this book. The setting is so rich, so vivid, that I could easily picture myself there. And it felt like I experienced the whole story with the free-spirited Kat.

Although I didn't really connect with Kat (and I suspect this is just down to the age gap and my own preference) she was fantastically self aware, and the beautiful setting more than made up for it. I did enjoy how the story explored Kat's regrets and thoughts and feelings about how her life had panned out and kept surprising her.

One thing I absolutely loved about the book was the abundance of food, especially in the form of recipes. I can't wait to try out some for myself.

This is the perfect summer read. And now I'm desperate to go to Venice.

[Laura (lau_leest) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Vermakelijk verhaal met een fijne, Venetiaanse, setting

[Pattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Venice...here I come soon...hopefully lol xx

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read all of Nicky's books up to this point, and would have to say that this one was one of my least favourites. I did enjoy the backdrop of Venice, with Kat choosing to dedicate one year of her life by staying in the city, while moving-in with Massimo, a man that she meets at the Hotel Gondola. However, from the beginning of the novel, it was difficult to see a connection between Kat and Massimo; I felt that their 'love' was fleeting, and the author made it difficult for us as readers to truly understand the connection that they felt. I wasn't too keen on Dante either, as I felt Kat had just met him sporadically one day while she was in her apartment, then the next thing, she is sharing a romantic evening with him. There was little to no anticipation of their potential 'romance', with us as readers feeling shortchanged at Kat's interactions with him. I did like how Kat struck up a friendship with Coco, who brought a sort of vibrancy to the novel. However, I didn't understand why the author threw in the characters of Ruth and Rosetta, both of whom didn't add much 'colour' to the novel, seeming as though they were only thought of later-on. The plotline was also predictable, leaving nothing to the imagination, especially when it came to Coco's illness, and Massimo's quick departure after Kat's confession at dinner. Overall, this book did have some intriguing points however, was mostly a lot of fluff that I didn't quite enjoy.

[Ренета Кирова · Rating 4 out of 5]

Много приятно и отморяващо книжле. Харесвам как пише Пелегрино.
Кат е писателка със собствено предаване, с приключенски дух и обожаваща храната. На 50 години тя среща Масимо и се влюбва в него. Заминава за Венеция, за да заживеят заедно и да напише новата си книга "Една година в хотел Гондола". Само че нещата не се оказват толкова лесни, двамата трябва да преосмислят всичко и да пренаредят приоритетите си. Книгата описва Венеция, тайните улички, заведенията, които са закътани от туристите, трудностите на града като туристически град, вкусната храна, лодките и празничните дни. Включени са и няколко рецепти.

[Marcus Hobson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable mix of Venice, romance and plenty of cooking recipes. Not quite my normal reading matter, but it is a good plot which kept me turning the pages.
If nothing else it is a good reminder that when we are busy in our lives, engrossed in our work or our own pet projects, it is always important to keep talking to the person you love, letting them know what you need, or what you are missing. Communication is everything, even if feeding people delicious recipes comes a close second in this book.
There is plenty of sea food in this book, Venice is teaming with it throughout the seasons, and there are some great recipes which I might try at home, although not those with baby octopus which I don't see a lot of in the supermarket.

[Диана · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5*

[Neringa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lengvo turinio, lengvai susiskaičiusi knyga. Kaip ir visos mano skaitytos knygos apie Italiją - su apetitą žadinančiais maisto aprašymais ir keletu receptų, tad alkanam skaityti nerekomenduoju 🙂

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat is a travel food writer and she's spending a year in Venice with her new love, hoping that things will develop into a happy ever after whilst providing her with lots of new material for a book. She wants Massimo to show her the Venetian Venice- but he doesn't want all their secrets shared with the tourists.
She finds a wonderful vintage clothes shop, where the lovely eccentric owner finds the perfect outfit for her customers and becomes a close friend. She also makes friends with a couple of the female guests.
You can feel the stresses of running a family hotel and the constraints it places on you. Kat works there as well as finding somewhere to experiment with her new recipes.

[Aistė Plavinskaitė · Rating 5 out of 5]

iš pažiūros tokia lengva ir neįpareigojanti, tačiau kupina emocijų ir išminties knyga, net tik apie gražią ir bohemišką Veneciją, skanų maistą, bet ir apie tikrąsias vertybes, žmonių polėkius, pasaulėjautą. nesvarbu kiek tau metų, ir kas esi, žmonės gyvena su tais pačiais egzistenciniais klausimais, bręsta savo brandoje ir negali taikstytis su blėstančia jaunyste. Nuostabi knyga ❤️

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

O que mais me chamou para ler este livro foi o título... Sim, o título.
Tive a oportunidade de visitar Veneza e fiquei muito intrigada por ver como é que a cidade e todo o seu ambiente é retratado num livro.

A verdade é que o livro é muito fiel à alma de Veneza, à sua população, aos seus costumes, tudo - sentimos mesmo que estamos na cidade ao ler.

Um aspeto que achei interessante foi a autora colocar receitas de comida tradicionalmente veneziana no livro - não dá para fugir às influências da cidade.

Gostei da personagem da Kat, o quão independente e irreverente é aos 50 anos e não abdica do seu modo de viver. Adorei a relação dela com o Massimo, com a cidade e com as personagens secundárias como a Coco.

É impossível não nos sentirmos absorvidos pela cidade, adorei.

[Judy Rossignuolo · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I chose this book, I was looking for a light read, and perhaps, in the end, it was a little too light. The first short chapter held promise, but the book didn’t follow through.
Although set in one of my favourite places in the world, the story lacked depth, and was little more than a light romance. I began to find the main character Kat, annoying. She was focused on herself and lacked self-awareness and had no insight into the feelings of those around her. I debated a number of times whether to even finish the book. The ending, while falling into the category of ‘satisfying’ was oh so predictable. Overall, just disappointing.

[Jane Gregg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my languid Easter holiday treat; a light and lovely sojourn with Nicky Pellegrino’s latest. Yes there’s a formula at play here, and no this is not serious fiction, but everyone needs a break sometime and you’d be hard pressed not to secretly adore being transported to Venice for a full immersion in all that mysterious city has underneath its rich patina. As with all Nicky P’s books, there are lovely recipes here too. Delicious.

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Travel To Venice

Venice is portrayed in a lovely way in this book and I’m not surprised that Kat went there to write a book. I also understand she didn’t want to go somewhere that has already been discovered, ie a popular city which would be teaming with tourists. Instead she prefers off the beaten track places and always likes changing the view from her window. I’m with her on that one!

Always moving around has meant that Kat is single and so, in her 50s, she’s decided to try this new experience of meeting a man and giving their relationship a year. Well, a lot can happen in a year which it does…

What was really interesting here was the real and humbling travelling experiences, thoughts and regrets Kat had and how this was actually a book within a book. The novel contains the book Kat is writing which I really enjoyed

Venice comes out loud and clear and will make you book up for sure! The author popped over to the Booktrail to chat about location some more. You'll have a longing to go to Venice by the end of it!

[Kim Coenen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dit is het eerste boek van Nicky Pellegrino dat ik ga lezen. Ik ben erg benieuwd naar haar boeken, aangezien ik ze al vaak voorbij heb zien komen en de sfeervolle covers die direct een vakantiegevoel bij me oproepen. Ik hoop dan ook op een feelgood die heerlijk vlot en levendig is geschreven waarbij je echt even wegdroomt van een zonnige bestemming, in dit geval Venetië gok ik aan de cover te zien.


Kat gaat een nieuw avontuur tegemoet. Ditmaal is haar plan om in één jaar op één plek te blijven, Venetië, en haar relatie met Massimo een kans te geven. Kat is alleen nooit een huismus geweest en reist als schrijfster al lange tijd de hele wereld rond. Op zoek naar nieuwe plekken, avonturen en recepten. Zal een relatie haar lukken en om één jaar op één plek te blijven?
Massimo lijkt de man te zijn waarvoor Kat dit wil proberen. Ze helpt hem bij het runnen van zijn hotel, waarbij ze in de tussentijd werkt aan haar nieuwe boek. Dit boek gaat over het eten dat ze proeft, de plekken die ze ontdekt en de mensen die ze ontmoet. Kat zou alleen na al die jaren wel dingen moeten hebben geleerd, niets verloopt zoals verwacht...


Nicky Pellegrino heeft een vlotte, levendige en beeldende schrijfstijl. Voordat je het in de gaten hebt, waan je je in Italië, Venetië en reis je mee door de prachtige stad, kleine wegen, rivieren en geniet je van het lekkerste Italiaanse eten.

We volgen het verhaal van Kat, een wisselvallige en onrustige vrouw die nog erg zoekende is met wat ze wil in het leven. Dit heeft Nicky Pellegrino dit goed gedaan, want haar rusteloosheid was voelbaar. Kat is leuk uitgewerkt, evenals de andere personages in het verhaal. Het zijn leuke, diverse en heel uiteenlopende mensen, waardoor het een fijne mix van personages vormt. Zeker de standvastige Massimo vormt een mooi tegenwicht tegenover Kat, evenals Coco en Ruth.

We volgen het jaar van Kat in Venetië waarin ze naast haar schrijven een jaar werkt in het hotel Gondola van Massimo. Wat dit verhaal vooral in mijn ogen een originele feelgood maakt is dat de stad maar ook het eten en de recepten. Gedurende het verhaal passeren verschillende recepten van gerechten die in het verhaal levendig beschreven worden. Hierdoor is het wel een verhaal dat honger/trek oproept. Voor mij persoonlijk hadden alleen de gerechten aan het einde van het boek gemogen, zodat ze gebundeld waren en de swing wat minder uit het verhaal hadden gehaald. Toch is het een mooi, zomers en fijn liefdesverhaal met een mooi einde.

Een jaar in hotel Gondola is een mooie, zomerse en fijne feelgood. Deze feelgood neemt je mee naar Venetië, waarin de stad levendig en met sfeer en gevoel wordt beschreven, evenals het heerlijke eten (recepten zijn bijgevoegd) daarnaast volgen we een fijn liefdesverhaal en lezen we over de vriendschappen en banden die Kat opbouwt als ze een jaar in Venetië verblijft.

[LindyLouMac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having lived the Italian dream myself for a number of years, it is always a pleasure to lose myself in a story written by an author whose passion for Italy is obvious. From the delightful way she writes about the sights and smells to the detail of including some authentic recipes in her storyline. This is the fourth novel I have read by Nicky Pellegrino, surely a good recommendation in itself. She writes in such a way that I feel myself drifting off to the world she writes about, so far always set in my beloved Italy, but each novel portrays a different Italian world. This time she transports us to the magical city of Venice.
A novel recommended for those Italophiles that cannot resist another story set in Italy, fans of the author's writing, or indeed anyone interested in travelling via the pages of novels.

https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...

[Heather Steevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Another easy read by Nicky Pellegrino.

What made it even better for me is that I’m currently holidaying in Italy and heading to Venice next week, so it was great reading about all the places I’ll hopefully visit while I am there!

[Rosetta Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these characters. I wanted to try all the food and wine, and I stayed on the couch snuggled with this book for three days vicariously traipsing through the streets of Venice. Coco was marvellous! I want to be Coco.

[Diana Šimčikaitė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jautiesi lyg vaikščiotų Venecijoje. Meilė, kažkas naujo, kad ne jaunų žmonių. Receptai.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recepten in een boek zijn altijd een pluspunt 😍

[Tiff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Made me cry!

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Nicky Pellegrino’s books and have had this one hidden away on my Kindle app for ages! It’s the perfect book to read for the 20 Books of Summer Challenge, as Kat, the main character has set herself the challenge of staying put in one place, rather than living out of a suitcase and travelling for her job as a food writer.
Nicky Pellegrino’s books always transport me to Italy, and this time it was to Venice. It made me want visit, but stay for longer just like Kat, to experience Venice out of season when all the tourists have gone home.
I liked Kat and Massimo, their romance felt very real, but sometimes non-existent, with Massimo absorbed into the running of his small family run hotel. I felt sorry for Kat at times, so was pleased that she’d made friends with Coco and Ruth, both older women with interesting life stories. They were both quite eccentric, but very loveable, especially Coco giving away her designer clothes and speaking very bluntly at times!
As always there were mouth watering descriptions of Italian food, (with recipes this time!) throughout the story, making me want to reach into the book and eat it all!
Highly recommended if you enjoy books set in Italy.

[Miekes.boekenwereld · Rating 4 out of 5]

De reislustige schrijfster Kat neemt de uitdaging van haar uitgever aan als ze verliefd wordt op een Venetiaan: ga een jaar in Venetië wonen en schrijf er een boek over.

We lezen om en om een hoofdstuk in het heden en een hoofdstuk dat Kat voor haar boek schrijft. Hierbij loopt de tijd niet altijd synchroon, dus is het zaak om in de gaten te houden in welke tijdsperiode je aan het lezen bent. Als het jaar vordert blijkt Kats leven niet zo idyllisch als dat ze in haar boek beschrijft.

Mooi om te lezen over de onafhankelijke krachtige vrouwen Kat, Zita, Ruth en Coco, die ondanks hun bagage uit het verleden kansen grijpen wanneer ze zich voordoen. Maar ook over de Venetiaanse pracht, de locals en hun alledaagsheid en het heerlijke eten van Venetië.

Hou je van Italië dan is dit boek een feestje om te lezen. Ben je zo bevoorrecht geweest om Venetië aan te doen, dan is dit een boek vol herkenning. En als kers op de taart worden er een aantal recepten gedeeld om bij te watertanden! Met dit boek belééf je Venetië, en je krijgt er niet minder trek van...

Met dank aan Uitgeverij De Fontein voor het recensie-exemplaar.

[Carole Derbyshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bit slow going

[Jacki (Julia Flyte) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kat Black has spent her career on the move as the star of a TV travel series. She's recently turned 50 and she's never had a long term relationship. But the milestone birthday has made her realise that she has maybe twenty more "good years" and it's time to make some changes. So she moves to Venice to live with Massimo, the handsome hotelier whom she's been seeing at long distance for a few months. She has committed to spending a year in Venice, working at the hotel with Massimo and writing an "Eat, Pray, Love" type memoir about the experience. What she hasn't factored in is how difficult it will be to transition from a nomadic lifestyle to a settled one where every day is essentially the same, and to living with someone for the first time ever.

I enjoyed the Venetian setting and the occasional recipes but I didn't love this book. Kat is a self-centered character that is hard to like: even her "mea culpa" moment is shot with a refusal to compromise. The relationship with Massimo quickly sours and the tension lies in what she will choose between career opportunities, Massimo and the handsome new man that she has met. The problem is that Massimo is a wooden character who never really comes to life and Kat is someone that I never cared about - in fact I was actively hoping that she'd become so miserable she'd throw herself off a bridge into a nearby canal. Which - spoiler alert! - sadly, she doesn't.